U.S. patent application number 12/591673 was filed with the patent office on 2011-06-02 for personal air purifier.
Invention is credited to Fu-Chi Wu, Steven Wu.
Application Number | 20110126828 12/591673 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 44067905 |
Filed Date | 2011-06-02 |
United States Patent
Application |
20110126828 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Wu; Fu-Chi ; et al. |
June 2, 2011 |
Personal air purifier
Abstract
This invention relates to a personal air purifier having a
housing with a filtering-and-purifying unit, a fan and an
air-velocity-controlling unit therein. Under the control of the
air-velocity-controlling unit, the fan can draw air through an air
inlet into the housing and supply it via the
filtering-and-purifying unit and a vent hole to the user, with
comfortable air pressure and the filtering-and-purifying unit can
purify most of the harmful substances from the air, making the air
well purified. The vent hole is formed in the housing and connected
with a duct that is extending to the user's nostril to supply the
well purified air to the user. The personal air purifier is able to
be carried on the shoulder or belt of the user anywhere, and is
able to be activated by the solar energy when it is used
outdoors.
Inventors: |
Wu; Fu-Chi; (Northridge,
CA) ; Wu; Steven; (Northridge, CA) |
Family ID: |
44067905 |
Appl. No.: |
12/591673 |
Filed: |
November 27, 2009 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
128/201.25 ;
128/205.12; 224/257; 422/120; 422/121 |
Current CPC
Class: |
A62B 7/10 20130101; B01D
2255/20707 20130101; A62B 23/02 20130101; A45F 5/021 20130101; B01D
2258/06 20130101; B01D 2259/804 20130101; B01D 2259/4541 20130101;
B01D 2253/102 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
128/201.25 ;
422/120; 422/121; 128/205.12; 224/257 |
International
Class: |
A62B 7/10 20060101
A62B007/10; B01J 19/08 20060101 B01J019/08; B01D 53/00 20060101
B01D053/00; A45F 3/14 20060101 A45F003/14 |
Claims
1. A personal air purifier, comprising: a housing having an air
inlet and at least one vent hole; a filtering-and-purifying unit
received in the housing, said filtering-and-purifying unit being
composed of at least one purifying component; at least one electric
fan mounted in the housing; and an air-velocity-controlling unit
received in the housing; wherein under the control of said
air-velocity-controlling unit, the fan can draw air through said
air inlet into said housing and supply it via said
filtering-and-purifying unit and said vent hole to a user, and
under the filtering and the purifying of said
filtering-and-purifying unit, most of harmful substances in the air
can be taken away and well purified air can be obtained by the
user.
2. The personal air purifier as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising at least one duct, each said duct having two ends, one
end of which is connected with said vent hole, the other end of
which is provided with a means for fitting a nose of the user.
through design of such vent hole, can connect one end of dust and
vent hole, which purified air in housing, so better air pressure
gathered by vent hole is delivered to nostrils.
3. The personal air purifier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
filtering-and-purifying unit includes at least one selected from
the group consisting of a high efficiency particulate arrestance
filter (HEPA), a made-of-nylon filter, an activated carbon filter,
an ultraviolet lamp (UV lamp), a nano Ti02 filter, a formaldehyde
blocker, a multifunction filter, a cation (anion) generator, a
plasma generator, a high-voltage positive-power supplier, an
electrostatic precipitator, a wet electrostatic precipitator,
porous stone, activated carbon, a wet electrostatic precipitator, a
static filter, a bioantibody filter and a metal filter.
4. The personal air purifier as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising a fastening buckle attached on a lateral of said housing
for a waist belt to pass through.
5. The personal air purifier as claimed in claim 1, wherein said
housing is provided with a battery-accommodating recess for
receiving at least one battery that supplies power required by the
fan and the filtering-and-purifying unit, said
battery-accommodating recess having an opening for putting battery
into said recess, and a cover for closing said opening, so as to
keep the battery inside said battery-accommodating recess.
6. The personal air purifier as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising a socket attached on said housing, so that the purifier
can be connected to a power source through a power cable for indoor
use.
7. The personal air purifier as claimed in claim 1, further
comprising a solar panel, which is coupled with a photovoltaic
conversion circuit, and which is attaching on an outside part of
said housing, thereby when the air purifier is used outdoors in
daytime, said solar panel can collect solar energy, and said
photovoltaic conversion circuit can convert the solar energy into
electric power to supply said fan, said filtering-and-purifying
unit and rechargable battery.
8. The personal air purifier as claimed in claim 2, wherein said
means for fitting with the nose of the user is having at least one
nostril plug for inserting into one nostril of the nose.
9. The personal air purifier as claimed in claim 2, wherein said
means for fitting with the nose of the user is having a mask for
covering the nose.
10. The personal air purifier as claimed in claim 2, wherein said
means for fitting with the nose of the user is having a smoke hood
for entirely covering a head of the user.
11. The personal air purifier as claimed in claim 1, wherein the
fan and the filtering-and-purifying unit are configured to have a
structure by which an external power source can be used to power
them.
12. The personal air purifier as claimed in claim 7, wherein the
solar panel is configured to have a structure by which said solar
panel can be separated from said housing, and settled on an
external article to collect solar energy and electrically supply
power to charge battery, which is installed inside the
battery-accommodating recess, by means of an electric cord.
13. The personal air purifier as claimed in claim 1, wherein at
least one fastening ring attached on said housing for fixing a
carrying strap therewith so that the whole air purifier can be
carried on the user's shoulder or hung at will.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to an air purifier, more
particularly to a personal air purifier having a housing provided
therein with a filtering-and-purifying unit, a fan and an
air-velocity-controlling unit. The fan is for drawing air through
an air inlet formed at one end of the housing into the same under
the control of the air-velocity-controlling unit. The
filtering-and-purifying unit is containing one or more purifying
components for purifying most of the harmful substances from the
air, so as to make the air well purified. The purified air is then
supplied through a vent hole formed at another end of the housing
and connected with a duct that is distally provided with at least
one nostril plug for fitting into user's nostril. Under the control
of said air-velocity-control unit, the purified air can be
effectively delivered to the user's nostril with appropriate
pressure. By using the personal air purifier, a user can easily
obtain purified and clean air anywhere he/she may go to or stay at.
Therefore, the personal air purifier of the present invention is
particularly suitable for exercisers, pedestrians, outdoor
enthusiasts, inhabitants and workers in epidemic areas, factory
workers, miners, office workers, students, bus/train/airplane
passengers, patients, medical professionals, firemen and armies,
etc.
[0003] 2. Description of Related Art
[0004] With the rapid progress of industries and commerce
contributed by the highly developed technologies, people enjoy the
civilization as well as the convenience realized by various means
of transport. For example, aircraft, vessels, and vehicles have
become essential transport tools for the busy commercial activities
taking place in our daily life. While bringing convenience to human
society, these transport tools do emit considerable waste gas that
seriously pollutes the atmosphere people depend on for living. Such
waste gas, together with harmful particles, dust, animal hairs,
fibers, and industrial emission, is acutely threatening human
health. As a result of continuously inhaling these foreign
substances in the air, people avoidably have their health adversely
affected and even suffer from diseases caused by these harmful
substances. Besides, in recent years, many lethal, epidemic viruses
are spread through air. All these facts emphasize the importance of
purifying harmful substances and viruses from the air we
inhale.
[0005] For a long time, in order to avoid inhaling polluted,
harmful air, in addition to using various air filters or air
purifiers settled indoor; wearing masks is the most popular way
that people perform in public places or outdoors; there are many
types of masks, each having its respective purpose, for people's
option. For example, commercially available masks include those for
general use, for medical use, for industrial use, for epidemic
prevention, and for smoke protection, all sold in different price
levels. Although wearing a mask can somehow help reduce inhalation
of polluted, harmful air or viruses carried by the air, the
purifying capability of the conventional masks is limited. While
purifying air, masks unavoidably block air flow and thus cause
people wearing them to breathe strenuously. Particularly, in places
where the air is bad or thin, wearing a mask can make the wearer
uncomfortable due to sultry feeling and insufficient air
inhalation. This is the unsolved problem about using conventional
masks for air purifying.
[0006] Further, current air purifier only can be used for indoors.
There is no vent hole designed to deliver enough air pressure via a
dust to user's nostril to breath in the purified air, so it cannot
be used as personal air purifier.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0007] One objective of the present invention is to provide a
personal air purifier. The purifier has a housing provided therein
with a filtering-and-purifying unit containing one or more
purifying components, and a fan and an air-velocity-controlling
unit. The fan draws air through an air inlet that is composed of a
plurality of openings formed and disposed at one end of the
housing, and then the filtering-and-purifying unit purifies most of
the harmful substances from the air, so as to make the air well
purified for various purifying purposes. The housing is scalable in
volume for better portability. The purifier thus can fully avoid
the problems of the prior art, such as hindering breath, causing
sultriness and in turn uncomfortableness, and poor purifying
efficiency. The purifier further has a duct that is connected to a
vent hole formed in another end of the housing and distally
provided with a means for fitting with a nose of a user. Therefore,
the purified air can be supplied through a vent hole and
effectively delivered to the nose with appropriate air pressure
under the control of the air-velocity-controlling unit by automatic
or manual adjustment. By using the personal air purifier, a user
can easily obtain purified and clean air anywhere. Therefore, the
personal air purifier of the present invention is particularly
suitable for exercisers, pedestrians, outdoor enthusiasts,
inhabitant's and workers in epidemic areas, factory workers,
miners, office workers, students, bus/train/airplane passengers,
patients, medical professionals, firemen and armies, etc.
[0008] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a
personal air purifier as described above. The purifier can further
have a solar panel settled outside the housing so that when the air
purifier is used outdoors in daytime, the solar panel is capable of
collecting the solar energy that is subsequently converted by a
photovoltaic conversion circuit into electric power for powering
the fan and the purifying-and-purifying unit as well as recharging
the battery inside.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0009] The invention as well as a preferred mode of use, further
objectives and advantages thereof will be best understood by
reference to the following detailed description of an illustrative
embodiments when read in conjunction with the accompanying drawing,
wherein:
[0010] FIG. 1 is an exploded view of a personal air purifier
according to one preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0011] FIG. 2 is a sectional view of the assemble personal air
purifier of FIG. 1;
[0012] FIG. 3 is a perspective view of the personal air purifier of
the present invention;
[0013] FIG. 4 is a schematic drawing showing the personal air
purifier with a cover of its battery-accommodating recess opened
for accessing batteries therein;
[0014] FIG. 5 is a schematic drawing showing a user carrying the
personal air purifier on his shoulder by means of a carrying
strap;
[0015] FIG. 6 is a schematic drawing showing the personal air
purifier attached to a waist band for a user to fasten the personal
air purifier on his waist;
[0016] FIG. 7 is a schematic drawing showing the user carrying the
personal air purifier at his waist;
[0017] FIG. 8, according to another preferred embodiment of the
present invention, provides a schematic drawing showing the
personal air purifier with a vent hole provided with a duct that is
distally connected with a respirator;
[0018] FIG. 9, according to another preferred embodiment of the
present invention, provides a schematic drawing showing the
personal air purifier with a vent hole provided with a duct that is
distally connected with a smoke hood; and
[0019] FIG. 10, according to another preferred embodiment of the
present invention, provides a sectional view of the assembled
personal air purifier with a high efficiency particulate arrestance
filter provided therein.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
[0020] Referring to FIG. 1, FIG. 2 and FIG. 3 for a personal air
purifier 1 according to one preferred embodiment of the present
invention, the personal air purifier 1 has an inner space 12
defined by a housing 11 with two ends. The inner space 12 receives
a filtering-and-purifying unit 2 containing one or more purifying
components, a fan 3 and an air-velocity-controlling unit 31. The
purifying components forming the filtering-and-purifying unit 2 may
include, but are not limited to, any of an HEPA (High Efficiency
Particulate Arrestance Filter), a made-of-nylon filter, an
activated carbon filter, an ultraviolet lamp (UV lamp), a nano Ti02
filter, a formaldehyde blocker, a multifunction filter, a cation
(anion) generator, a plasma generator, a high-voltage
positive-power supplier, an electrostatic precipitator, a wet
electrostatic precipitator, a static dust catcher 23, porous stone,
activated carbon, a bioantibody filter and a metal filter. The
aforementioned purifying components may be used alone or in
conjunction in the present invention. In the present embodiment,
two filters 21, a cation (anion) generator 22 and a static dust
catcher 23 are adapted to form the filtering-and-purifying unit 2.
In operation, the fan 3 draws air through an air inlet 14 that is
composed of a plurality of openings formed and disposed at one end
of the housing 11. Then the filtering-and-purifying unit 2 employs
at least one of the filters 21, the cation (anion) generator 22,
and the static dust catcher 23 to purify most of the harmful
substances from the air, so as to make the air well purified. The
purified air is then supplied out through a vent hole 15 and a duct
151. The vent hole 15 is formed at the other end of the housing 11.
The duct 151 has two ends, one end of which is connected with the
vent hole 15, through design of such vent hole 15, can connect one
end of dust and vent hole 15, which purified air in housing 11, so
better air pressure gathered by vent hole 15 is delivered to
nostril. The other end of which is provided with two nostril plugs
152 for fitting into nostrils 4 of a user. Consequently, the
purified air can be effectively delivered to the nostrils 4 with
appropriate air pressure by automatically or manually adjusting the
air-velocity-controlling unit 31 to control the rotational speed of
the fan 3 and in turn the drawing and supplying velocity of the
air, thereby the purified and clean air can be easily obtained. On
the housing 11, there is a pair of fastening ring 18 for allowing a
carrying strap 181 to be fixed thereon. By the carrying strap 181,
the purifier 1 can be easily carried on a user's shoulder (as shown
in FIG. 5) or hung at will. Moreover, a fastening buckle 19 may be
provided at a lateral of the housing 11 for a waist belt 5 to pass
therethrough so that the user can directly fasten the purifier 1 on
his waist (as shown in FIG. 6 and FIG. 7). The power required by
the operation of the fan 3 and the filtering-and-purifying unit 2
is supplied by batteries 172 received in a' battery-accommodating
recess 17. The battery-accommodating recess 17 is provided on the
housing 11 with an opening. The battery-accommodating recess 17 is
further equipped with a cover 171 configured to close the opening
of the battery-accommodating recess 17 so as to keep the batteries
firmly inside the recess (as shown in FIG. 4). Furthermore, the
housing 11 may have a socket 16, so that the purifier 1 may be
powered by a USB power source of a computer or wall power socket
through a power cable 161. Alternatively, the purifier 1 may be
connected with an external power source, such as an external
battery unit, an external solar receiver or a car cigarette
lighter, for indoor or charging the battery use. Additionally, the
purifier 1 may have a solar panel 13, which is coupled with
photovoltaic conversion circuit 131, and which is provided outside
its housing 11, so that when the air purifier 1 is used outdoors in
daytime, the solar panel 13 is capable of collecting the solar
energy that is subsequently converted by the photovoltaic
conversion circuit 131 into electric power for powering the fan 3,
the cation (anion) generator 22 and the static dust catcher 23. The
solar panel 13 may be configured to have a structure by which the
solar panel 13 can be separated from the housing 11 and settled on
an external article, electrically connecting with the batteries 172
inside the purifier 1 by means of an electric cord, so as to
collect solar energy and supply power to and thus charge the
batteries 172. In other embodiments, as shown in FIG. 8 and FIG. 9,
a mask 6 or a smoke hood 7 may be used in place of the nostril
plugs 152 to be attached to the duct 151 that are in connection
with the vent hole 15. That is to say, the duct 151 is better to be
configured to have a structure by which the nostril plugs 152, the
mask 6 and the smoke hood 7 can be optionally attached to the other
end of the duct 151. By the novel design of the present invention,
the purifier 1 is particularly suitable for exercisers,
pedestrians, outdoor enthusiasts, inhabitants and workers in
epidemic areas, factory workers, miners, office workers, students,
bus/train/airplane passengers, patients, medical professionals,
firemen and armies, etc. Also, the housing 11 of the disclosed
purifier 1 is practically scalable in size for meeting various
needs in use.
[0021] FIG. 10 shows a sectional view of a personal air purifier 1
of another embodiment of the present invention. This personal air
purifier 1 is further equipped with a high efficiency particulate
arrestance filter 24. With the presence of the high efficiency
particulate arrestance filter 24 in the housing 11 of the purifier
1, the purifying efficiency of the purifier 1 can be even
enhanced.
[0022] The present invention has been described with reference to
the preferred embodiments and it is understood that those
embodiments are not intended to limit the scope of the present
invention. Moreover, as the contents disclosed herein should be
readily understood and can be implemented by a person skilled in
the art, all equivalent changes or modifications which do not
depart from the concept of the present invention should be
encompassed by the appended claims.
* * * * *